Internal Transfer FAQ

FEATURED QUESTIONS


I WAS ACCEPTED INTO ANOTHER COLLEGE/SCHOOL AT UT AUSTIN, BUT I WANT TO ENROLL IN THE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE. WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?
Undergraduates currently enrolled in another college or school at The University of Texas at Austin who wish to pursue a major offered by the School of Architecture must submit an internal transfer application. In order to be eligible to apply, students must meet the following requirements:

Meeting these requirements does not guarantee admission.

HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE ACCEPTED AND WHO IS ACCEPTED?
The number of internal transfer students admitted is limited and varies from year to year depending upon available space. Emphasis is given to strong performance in university courses, especially classes relevant to the degree program to which the applicant is applying, and to the applicant's written essays. 

FAQ
WHAT IS IT LIKE TO MAJOR IN ARCHITECTURE OR INTERIOR DESIGN?

Visit the following external sites for thorough descriptions.

WHAT IS REQUIRED TO BECOME AN ARCHITECT?

There are three categories when it comes to pursuing registration as an architect:  Education, Experience, and Examination. These requirements are often referred to as the “Three E's." Texas requires the following:

Please see the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards [NCARB] website for the most up-to-date information.  

WHAT IS REQUIRED TO BECOME AN INTERIOR DESIGNER?

Becoming an interior designer invovles enrollment in a college of university program followed by several years of professional experience, typically under the supervision of a qualified interior designer. They must also pass a qualifying exam. We refer to these requirements as the “Three E’s”:

Please see the National Council for Interior Design Qualification [NCIDQ] website for the most up-to-date information.  

HOW DOES THE ARCHITECTURE PROGRAM AT UT AUSTIN COMPARE WITH OTHER SCHOOLS?

Our Bachelor of Architecture is consistently ranked in the top 10 nationally by DesignIntelligence. The most recent comparison of rankings is provided by Architectural Record.  

WHERE DO GRADUATES OF THE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE WORK AFTER GRADUATING?

Employment reports are available from the School of Architecture's Career Services office. 

I WAS ACCEPTED INTO ANOTHER COLLEGE/SCHOOL AT UT AUSTIN, BUT I WANT TO ENROLL IN THE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE. WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?

Undergraduates currently enrolled in another college or school at The University of Texas at Austin who wish to pursue a major offered by the School of Architecture must submit an internal transfer application. In order to be eligible to apply, students must meet the following requirements:

  • Email soa-ug@austin.utexas.edu and request to enroll in the SOA internal transfer canvas course
  • Completion of at least 24 credit hours in-residence at UT Austin by the end of a spring semester

Meeting these requirements does not guarantee admission.

*UT faculty are professors. Submit letters from two UT faculty to be most competitive. (TA's, FIG mentors, academic advisors, program coordinators, and staff members are not faculty.) Tips on talking to professors or requesting a recommendation letter can be found through simple internet searches.

IF I AM ACCEPTED, WHEN AND HOW WILL I BE NOTIFIED?

Decisions are made after the date all spring grades are posted at the end of the spring semester. You will be notified by email. 

HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE ACCEPTED AND WHO IS ACCEPTED?

The number of internal transfer students admitted is limited and varies from year to year depending upon available space. Emphasis is given to strong performance in university courses, especially classes relevant to the degree program to which the applicant is applying, and to the applicant's written essays. 

CAN I START TAKING CLASSES IN MY DESIRED MAJOR?

Yes, UT Austin students who are applying for internal transfer can take certain architecture and interior design courses.

Prospective Architecture majors:

  • ARC 308 - Architecture and Society
  • ARC 318K - History of Architecture, Survey I (Offered only in spring semesters. No prerequisites are enforced for non-majors.)
  • ARC 318L - History of Architecture, Survey II (Offered only in fall semesters. No prerequisites are enforced for non-majors.)

Prospective Interior Design majors:

  • ARI 318K, Interiors and Society * (Offered only in fall semesters.)
  • ARI 318M, Interior Design History I * (Offered only in spring semesters. No prerequisites are enforced for non-majors.)
  • PSY 301, Introduction to Psychology
  • ARC 318L, History of Architecture, Survey II (Offered only in fall semesters. No prerequisites are enforced for non-majors.)
  • ARH, any art history course

* Requires instructor permission. After permission is received, please contact the Undergraduate Dean's office to be added.

The remainder of your schedule should be filled with courses that fulfill university core requirements

WHEN ARE THE COURSES REQUIRED FOR THE ARCHITECTURE AND INTERIOR DESIGN DEGREES OFFERED?

Most of the courses required for the undergraduate architecture and interior design degrees are offered fall and spring semesters only. Most are offered during the day on weekdays.

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS TO BE CONSIDERED AS A SUMMER START DESIGN STUDENT?

Students who intend to begin in the summer must:

  1. Indicate on the application that they intend to begin the design sequence in the summer and enter the second year of the program the following fall semester
  2. Meet the prerequisites (applies only to prospective architecture majors): Credit for M 408C (or at least M 408K) and PHY 302K/105M (or PHY 303K/105M) is required before enrolling in the summer studio coursework.

The summer program consists of both summer sessions. Students are in class from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. every day. 

ARE THERE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES I CAN TAKE PART IN TO PREPARE?

Yes. Attend the School of Architecture Lecture Series. Visit the events calendar for information on these events. You may also get involved in the student organization that interests you. 

HOW LONG WILL I BE IN SCHOOL TO GET MY DEGREE?

It depends on the degree program you have decided to pursue and whether you begin the design sequence in the summer or fall. You may look at the required courses for architecture and interior design, and you may run an interactive degree audit on the architecture or interior design major. 

RELATED

Architecture Student Work

ARCHITECTURE UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

BSID Student Work

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INTERIOR DESIGN